Chapter 223: Fourth Master
Madam Chen sighed, "It seems those serving him are rather negligent. After all, he is still a young master of the Chen Family."
Madam Qin's smile faded slightly as she continued, "The wet nurse who used to care for him passed away two years ago, so we replaced her with this Zheng woman. Zheng was originally a storeroom keeper, so she might not be very attentive. I'll assign another servant to Xuan Yue's quarters later."
Madam Chen gave a faint hum. "His father doesn’t wish to concern himself with him, so as his mother, you must take proper care. Have some new clothes made for him—I noticed the sleeves of his current garments are too short."
Madam Qin replied, "Seasonal clothing is prepared on schedule. The summer attire was sent over as soon as the season began. But Xuan Yue dislikes wearing new clothes..."
After a long silence, Madam Chen finally said, "Then forget it. Leave him be."
Soon after, Wang Shi arrived with Chen Rong. As a concubine-born daughter, Chen Rong followed demurely behind Wang Shi, her fair complexion and almond-shaped eyes exuding a soft charm. She greeted everyone respectfully, and Madam Chen called her over for a chat.
Meanwhile, Madam Qin handed a plate of sliced pears to Jinchao with a gentle smile. "These are freshly harvested pears from my family’s estate, just delivered today. Do try some, Sister-in-law. I’ll have a basket sent to your quarters later, along with some cured meat—if you don’t mind it?"
Jinchao picked up a slice and smiled. "They say the pears from Zhending are as large as fists, sweet as honey, and crisp as water chestnuts—and it’s true! I do enjoy cured meat as well, and I’ll appreciate it even more coming from you, Sister-in-law."
"Then I’ll send some over to you," Madam Qin said, placing the small plate beside Jinchao. She then lowered her voice slightly, her phoenix eyes lifting. "Today is the fourth day of the seventh month, so the monthly allowances for each household will soon be distributed. Would you like me to deliver yours, or shall you send someone to collect it?"
Jinchao replied, "I’ll have Granny Sun fetch it. No need to trouble you, Sister-in-law."
Madam Qin smiled again. "There’s no trouble between sisters-in-law. But Mama Wang used to collect it before—why the change to Granny Sun? I’ll have to inform the stewards to avoid handing it to the wrong person."
"I meant to mention it to you," Jinchao said. "Granny Sun was recently assigned to me by Mother, so I thought to let her gain some experience. She’ll be managing my household affairs from now on, so you may relay any matters to her."
Was she dismissing Mama Wang? Madam Qin glanced at Madam Chen, who was still conversing with Chen Rong, seemingly oblivious—or perhaps deliberately ignoring their exchange.
By noon, Third Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen arrived.
Madam Chen specifically called Fourth Master Chen aside to discuss Chen Rong’s marriage prospects. "…Madam Zhao from Hulu Lane has proposed a match—the young master of the Xue family in Liangxiang. He earned the xiucai title a few years ago, and his family is quite wealthy. If you agree, we can finalize the arrangement."
Fourth Master Chen, Chen Yanwen, had delicate, almost feminine features, and his expression turned colder when silent. He frowned at the mention. "Only a xiucai title..."
Marrying Chen Rong would be an overreach for such a candidate.
Wang Shi, seated nearby, quickly interjected with a smile, "I’m acquainted with Madam Zhao. The Xue family’s young master seems quite diligent."
But Fourth Master Chen ignored her entirely, instead asking Madam Chen, "What does Mother think?"
Wang Shi’s smile stiffened awkwardly, and she picked up a pear to eat.Madam Chen smiled and said, "After all, Rongjie is just a child raised by a concubine, not as noble as a legitimate daughter. Besides, that child is indeed quite good. The Xue family is wealthy, and she would be marrying their young master as his wife—she would only enjoy blessings."
Fourth Master Chen nodded. "Then let it be as Mother says."
In such matters, Jinchao and Chen Yanyun could hardly interject. Chen Yanyun sat beside her and finished her plate of pears, while Jinchao handed him a handkerchief.
When he returned it, he remarked, "It smells like camellias."
Jinchao asked softly, "What do you mean by camellias?"
Chen Yanyun pointed at her with a smile. "On you... But the cloak you made for me is scented with pinewood."
Had he guessed it was for him? Gu Jinchao thought to herself, lifting her sleeve to sniff. She couldn’t detect any scent... Instead, she felt that after living with him for some time, she had taken on his faint sandalwood fragrance—warm and serene.
Granny Zheng came in to ask where lunch should be served, and Madam Chen decided on the flower hall. As Jinchao stepped out of the room, she saw Chen Rong speaking to Chen Zhao, bending slightly to watch him play with a handful of glass beads, her tone cautious. When she noticed Fourth Master Chen and Wang Shi emerge, she hurried over to greet them, visibly nervous.
Fourth Master Chen was not yet thirty, with delicate yet strikingly handsome features. Wang Shi stood beside him, looking almost like his elder sister.
He nodded, casually offering Chen Rong a few words of advice before asking after her concubine mother.
Wang Shi paled, not daring to say a word.
Third Master Chen followed shortly after, resting a hand on Jinchao’s shoulder. "What are you looking at?"
Jinchao shook her head with a smile and accompanied him to the flower hall.
Wang Shi watched Fourth Master Chen’s expression carefully all the way back to their quarters. Once inside, he sat silently on the Arhat bed. Wang Shi personally brewed tea and brought it over. "Fourth Master, please don’t be angry... This concubine only thought the matter wasn’t settled yet, so—"
Fourth Master Chen said coldly, "Were you planning to tell me after it was settled? Who runs this household—you or me? And today, in front of Third Brother and his wife, you embarrassed me like this. What exactly are you scheming?"
Wang Shi forced a smile. "This concubine didn’t mean to embarrass you. I merely mentioned Madam Zhao, and Mother took it upon herself to inquire."
Wasn’t that embarrassing enough? Chen Rong’s marriage should have been discussed with her father, yet Wang Shi hadn’t even mentioned it to him. What would others think?
Seeing Fourth Master Chen remain silent, Wang Shi softened her voice. "This concubine was wrong. I’ll be more careful." She changed the subject. "Have you and Third Master finalized the matter of your trip to Wenzhou Prefecture in Zhejiang? I’ve already written to my elder brother to arrange for your reception."
Chen Yanwen’s expression darkened completely. "You told your brother about my trip to Wenzhou?"
Noticing his displeasure, Wang Shi’s heart skipped a beat, unsure what had provoked him. She lowered her voice to explain, "With my brother’s assistance, your affairs in Wenzhou would proceed more smoothly."
Chen Yanwen stood up, his tall, slender frame casting a shadow on the floor before Wang Shi in the candlelight.
He said indifferently, "You should rest first." Taking the cloak beside him, he strode out.
Wang Shi hastily grabbed his sleeve. "Fourth Master, tonight you’re supposed to stay in this concubine’s chamber... Where are you going?"
A mocking smile touched his lips. "So it really is you running this household now?"Wang Shi was taken aback as Chen Yanwen had already left the side chamber. Soon after, her personal maid Pomegranate came to report: "...Fourth Master went to Consort You's place. They've ordered another table of dishes there."
Consort You was Chen Rong's birth mother.
Wang Shi sat weakly on the arhat bed.
Pomegranate whispered, "Madam, today was supposed to be your night. With the master going to Consort You, she'll be gloating over this... Perhaps tomorrow we should summon her here to remind her of proper conduct, lest she becomes arrogant from favoritism."
Wang Shi shook her head with a smile. "Let it be. No need to give others reason to laugh at us. No matter how pleased she is, she wouldn't dare overstep. Let her be." After all, without bearing a son, she would never amount to much. Once Chen Rong was married off, Consort You would have even less to rely on.
As Pomegranate combed her hair, she sighed. "You're always so careful with Fourth Master, yet he's never satisfied..."
Wang Shi smiled bitterly. "He merely looks down on my merchant family background, despising the smell of money. That's how people are... When you dislike someone, everything they do disgusts you." Though Fourth Master Chen and Third Master Chen were both legitimate sons of the Chen Family, the difference between them was like heaven and earth. Moreover, Fourth Master had passed the imperial examination in his youth and could have become an official, but because of Third Master... he ended up with only a nominal position at the Imperial Academy. Since then, his temper had grown increasingly worse.
Wang Shi gripped a gold filigree hairpin on her dressing table so tightly her nails turned white.
Two days later, when Granny Sun came to collect the monthly allowance, Jinchao learned she received seventy taels of silver each month, while the concubines in the third branch received twenty. Head maids got four taels, second-rank maids three... and so on down the hierarchy, with stewardesses receiving the same as head maids.
Jinchao picked out four taels for Granny Sun and added a red cloth-wrapped silver bullion: "I heard your son is getting married. Consider this my wedding gift."
The weight was easily over ten taels... Granny Sun felt it was too much and hurriedly declined. "Madam, you need your silver too. There's no need for such gifts... Country weddings don't require such formalities!"
To earn someone's loyalty, one must treat them well. Jinchao smiled and pressed the silver into her hands. "Later I'll have Qingpu select two bolts of silk, along with candied fruits and pastries to send over. For such a happy occasion, you should take a few extra days at home... Don't refuse—there will be many expenses ahead." Granny Sun had a blind second son who relied on her wages and her eldest son's work at the Chen Family's villa for support; their family had always struggled financially.
Unable to decline further, Granny Sun accepted the silver with a curtsy of thanks.
Soon it was time for the Ghost Festival. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, ancestral worship and water lantern ceremonies were held, while Bao Xiang Temple organized a grand Ullambana Dharma Assembly. Madam Chen led the women of the Chen Family to attend. The assembly was magnificently arranged, and Bao Xiang Temple, being the largest local monastery second only to the Great Xiangguo Temple, was crowded with pilgrims and visitors. The Chen women were guided through a side entrance by a reception monk.
After paying respects in the Main Hall, Chen Yi from Third Master Chen's retinue came with a message: Third Master was waiting for her at the back mountain.
While the Chen women retired to the meditation quarters to rest, Gu Jinzhao informed Madam Chen before following Chen Yi toward the back mountain. Her last visit to Bao Xiang Temple had been in winter. Third Master Chen had been conversing with a senior monk in the Reception Hall when she encountered a snowstorm, and he had invited her to take shelter...Chen Yanyun was standing outside the Reception Hall waiting for her. The sun was shining brightly, casting a faint blush on her cheeks.
Third Master Chen smiled and said, "Come in and have some tea first." He led her into the Reception Hall, back to the same side chamber, where Shuyan soon brought tea.
Jinchao took a sip, easing her thirst before asking, "Why did you ask me to come here?"
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